Monthly Archives: January 2012

San Antonio chooses its solar provider

Posted on January 17, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Nice. Under a bright winter sun Wednesday, CPS Energy CEO Doyle Beneby introduced the companies selected to build one of the country’s largest solar projects and a solar manufacturing plant in San Antonio, an investment of more than $100 million. … Continue reading →

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State not appropriating red light camera funds to trauma centers

Posted on January 17, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Stop me if you’ve heard this one before. Sandy Greyson drove away from an Arlington meeting eight years ago, and 2 tons of irony wiped her off the road. A red-light runner struck her passenger side, pushing the Dallas City … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Valero will not appeal tax break decision

Posted on January 17, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Good. Valero Energy Corp. has decided not to appeal the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality’s rejection of its request for a controversial property tax exemption. […] Valero spokesman Bill Day said the company no longer would seek the exemption because … Continue reading →

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Interview with David Rosen

Posted on January 16, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

We kick off the 2012 primary interview season with David Rosen, who is running for the Harris County Department of Education, Position 3, At Large. Rosen has worked on numerous campaigns in recent years before making the switch from behind … Continue reading →

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New Constable Berry sworn in

Posted on January 16, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Interim Precinct 1 Constable Ken Berry wasn’t supposed to be sworn in until January 31, but recent events forced Commissioners Court to move up the timetable. Harris County Commissioners Court on Friday held an emergency meeting to replace Precinct 1 … Continue reading →

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Redistricting litigation threatens party conventions

Posted on January 16, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

With the April 3 primary date now almost certainly no longer in play, the two parties’ biennial conventions are also at risk as the redistricting litigation drags on. The state’s Democratic and Republican parties made substantial down payments months ago … Continue reading →

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State Bar clears Feldman

Posted on January 16, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

I believe this brings to a close the last unresolved issue involving former CM Jolanda Jones. The State Bar of Texas has cleared City Attorney David Feldman of a grievance lodged by former Councilwoman Jolanda Jones that he mishandled an … Continue reading →

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Weekend link dump for January 15

Posted on January 15, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Happy MLK Day! If you live in Cinco ranch, you’re probably stuck in traffic right now. Oh, the irony of it all. If there ever were such a thing as “Sam’s Club Republicans”, one wonders if they’ve realized how badly … Continue reading →

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County approves building new forensics lab

Posted on January 15, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

The Institute of Forensic Sciences is getting a new home. Commissioners Court on Tuesday gave staff the go-ahead to finalize a land deal with the Texas Medical Center that would give the county 2.79 acres at the northeast corner of … Continue reading →

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Eradicating rabies

Posted on January 15, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Did you know that the state of Texas has been funding a program to wipe out rabies in foxes and coyotes by dropping vaccines for it from airplanes. It’s called the Texas Oral Rabies Vaccination Project, and it’s been a … Continue reading →

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Social media update

Posted on January 15, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

This is just a friendly reminder that you can find much of this blog’s content on the official Off the Kuff Facebook page, which I hope you will like. I was asked recently what the purpose of that page was, … Continue reading →

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Saturday video break: My World Is Empty Without You

Posted on January 14, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Song #86 on the Popdose Top 100 Covers list is “My Life Is Empty Without You”, originally by Diana Ross and the Supremes, covered by The Afghan Whigs. First up, the original: No mistaking that voice, or that Motown sound, … Continue reading →

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SOS sends voter registration info to DOJ

Posted on January 14, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Took them long enough, not that I’m complaining. Two weeks after Texas’ voter ID law was scheduled to go into effect, the measure is back in the U.S. Department of Justice’s hands. The Texas secretary of state’s office on Thursday … Continue reading →

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Here come the HOT lanes

Posted on January 14, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Those of you who commute from the ‘burbs into the central core will have new options for how to get there, if you don’t mind spending a few bucks. Solo drivers willing to pay extra to breeze through heavy traffic … Continue reading →

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It’s hard to get beyond coal

Posted on January 14, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

The city of Austin is trying, but there are many obstacles along the way. In Austin politics, it’s almost an article of faith that the city must aggressively curb its contribution to global climate change, regardless of what transpires across … Continue reading →

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Friday random ten: Themeless

Posted on January 13, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

No theme this week, just randomness… 1. Number Six Driver – Eddie From Ohio 2. Ida Red – Elena James 3. I Am Stretched On Your Grave – Sinead O’Connor 4. I Heard It Through The Grapevine – Creedence Clearwater … Continue reading →

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Brown v Rodriguez

Posted on January 13, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

I’ve been wondering how new Council Member Helena Brown’s style will play at Council meetings. I didn’t have to wait long to find out. Councilwoman Helena Brown and Councilman James Rodriguez squared off publicly Wednesday in the kind of bare-knuckled … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

City budget outlook

Posted on January 13, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Last year was a lousy budget year for the city of Houston. This year will be better, if only because it really can’t be much worse, but that doesn’t mean it’s going to be good. Kelly Dowe, the mayor’s finance … Continue reading →

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Marathon weekend

Posted on January 13, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

I’m sure you know that this Sunday is the Chevron Houston Marathon, but did you realize that there’s some hot marathon action happening on Saturday, too? Organizers for Saturday’s U.S. Olympic marathon trials arrived Tuesday to find a city and … Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

“When all the ships come sailing into the arbor”

Posted on January 13, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Want to do something for Houston? Plant a tree. Houston’s battle against the relentless drought, thus far characterized by felling, dismembering and mulching dead trees, entered a new phase Friday as parks officials announced plans for an Arbor Day 2012 … Continue reading →

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Abercia arrested

Posted on January 12, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Well, this explains a lot. Longtime Harris County Precinct One Constable Jack Abercia and two of his staffers were arrested Thursday morning on suspicion of violating several federal laws, including conspiring to accept bribes and using the county office for … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Sylvia Garcia’s impressions of the SCOTUS oral arguments on redistricting

Posted on January 12, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Former County Commissioner Sylvia Garcia was in Washington, DC to attend the Supreme Court hearing on the Texas redistricting case. I asked her before she left if she would be interested in writing about her impressions of the case for … Continue reading →

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Thinking long term about the city’s finances

Posted on January 12, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

If you didn’t have to worry about practicality or implementation issues, what ideas would you have about improving the city’s long term financial health? That in a nutshell is the mission of the Long-Range Financial Management Task Force that was … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

Abercia resigns, replacement named

Posted on January 12, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

As we know, longtime Precinct 1 Constable Jack Abercia announced that he would not be running for re-election. On Monday, he announced that he would resign, effective January 31. On Tuesday, Commissioners Court named a replacement for him to fill … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Texas blog roundup for the week of January 9

Posted on January 12, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance thinks watching football was a much better use of your time than watching the 389th Repubican Presidential debate as it brings you this week’s roundup.

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Fifth Circuit tosses injunction against sonogram law

Posted on January 11, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Ugh. A panel of federal appellate judges has authorized Texas officials to enforce a controversial abortion sonogram law while its constitutionality is being challenged in court. In an opinion, the judges said the measure’s opponents “failed to demonstrate constitutional flaws” … Continue reading →

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Fewer inmate deaths

Posted on January 11, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

More good news for the Sheriff’s office. The number of inmates who have died while in Harris County detention has plummeted during the last three years, a decline that Sheriff Adrian Garcia described as “deeply satisfying” but could not explain. … Continue reading →

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Payday lenders face new regulation

Posted on January 11, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

New regulations aimed at curbing the excesses of payday lenders are now in effect, but they will not be the last word on the subject. Proponents of the new regulations passed by lawmakers during the 2011 session say they’re needed … Continue reading →

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How dry we were

Posted on January 11, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

We were drier than ever last year. Federal scientists confirmed Friday that Texas had its driest year on record in 2011. The statewide average rainfall for the year totaled just 14.88 inches, according to the National Climatic Data Center, beating … Continue reading →

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2012 Democratic primary overview – Elsewhere in Texas

Posted on January 10, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

As I noted in my previous post about contested Democratic primaries in Harris County, I have also created a page for contested primaries elsewhere in Texas. Many of the same notes and caveats exist for this page as well: – … Continue reading →

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Larkin elected to Hall of Fame

Posted on January 10, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Congratulations to Barry Larkin on his Cooperstown call. I just wish he had some company for the dais. Former Cincinnati Reds shortstop and current ESPN analyst Barry Larkin was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame on Monday, getting 86.4 … Continue reading →

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Dis-Harmony

Posted on January 10, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Interesting story about the Harmony charter schools, which are right up there with KIPP and YES Prep among the top charters. They seem to attract a fair amount of criticism, more than their peers, for how they do their business, … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

The year in beer

Posted on January 10, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Scott Metzger offers a look back on beer news from 2011, and makes some predictions for this year. Of the most interest to me is this:

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Reports from SCOTUS redistricting arguments

Posted on January 9, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

There’s almost too much information to parse on the legal arguments made before the Supreme Court over the Texas redistricting maps. Let’s start with The Hill: The Supreme Court justices grappled to find a way to resolve a messy Texas … Continue reading →

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